Gear List

These are the devices I use throughout my home. Using the affiliate links help support my projects.

Amazon Echo Show

Amazon

View Echo Show

Voice control and front-door video pop-ups when the August lock unlocks.

Why I Use It

Acts as a quick visual notifier and hands-free controller near the entry.

Pros

  • Good doorbell display
  • Multi-room voice assistant
  • Works as intercom

Cons

  • Camera privacy to manage
  • Another device on the counter

August Smart Lock

August

View Lock

Front-door lock with status and control exposed to Home Assistant.

Why I Use It

Ties front-door events to cameras and lighting while keeping the existing deadbolt.

Pros

  • Retrofit install
  • Reliable presence unlocks
  • Works with existing keys

Cons

  • Batteries need tracking
  • Bridge adds another point of failure

Dreame / Neato Vacuum

Dreame / Neato

View Vacuum

Robot vacuum tied to cleaning schedules and HA notifications.

Why I Use It

Keeps floors clean with HA pausing runs for presence and quiet hours.

Pros

  • Reliable cleaning
  • App + HA controls
  • Quiet enough for night runs

Cons

  • Consumables to replace
  • Mapping can drift after moves

Etekcity 433MHz Outlet

Etekcity

View Outlet

433MHz outlets driving accent lighting relays.

Why I Use It

Cheap remote outlets I can toggle from HA RF bridges for quick wins.

Pros

  • Low cost multi-pack
  • Works with RF bridges
  • Fast toggles

Cons

  • No power monitoring
  • Requires RF bridge setup

Flux / LED Strip Controller

Flux

View Controller

LED controller powering monthly color scenes for the exterior.

Why I Use It

Cheap RGB control that plays well with HA scripts and holiday presets.

Pros

  • Budget friendly
  • Works with HA scenes
  • Flexible LED support

Cons

  • OTA firmware can vary
  • Needs careful power planning

Garadget Garage Door Controller

Garadget

View Controller

Cloud-connected garage opener with reflection alerts tied to HA automations.

Why I Use It

Reliable garage control with feedback that ties into my perimeter lighting and arrival flows.

Pros

  • Simple install
  • HA-friendly API
  • Good alerting on obstructions

Cons

  • Requires Wi-Fi in the garage
  • Cloud-dependent status

NodeMCU Motion Sensor

NodeMCU

View Sensor

ESP8266 + PIR combo that drives office motion lighting.

Why I Use It

Cheap, fast motion detection that is easy to reflash and integrate.

Pros

  • Low cost
  • Fully local
  • Easy to reprogram

Cons

  • Needs USB power
  • Enclosure required for tidy installs

Phyn Plus Water Shutoff

Phyn

View Shutoff

Inline leak detection with automatic shutoff and HA-driven alerts.

Why I Use It

Protects the house from leaks and gives HA a direct shutoff control path.

Pros

  • Accurate flow detection
  • API hooks for HA automations
  • Automatic shutoff

Cons

  • Professional install recommended
  • Needs Wi-Fi near the main

Rachio Sprinkler Controller

Rachio

View Controller

Weather-aware irrigation that respects rain delays and seasons.

Why I Use It

Lets HA skip watering when the forecast or sensors say we are covered.

Pros

  • Strong weather intelligence
  • Easy zone mapping
  • HA service hooks

Cons

  • Cloud account required
  • Outdoor enclosure may be needed

Raspberry Pi 3 + Aeon Z-Wave Stick

Raspberry Pi / Aeotec

View Hardware

Z-Wave backbone for door and hall sensors, running on a Pi 3.

Why I Use It

Keeps Z-Wave radio stable and separable from the main HA container.

Pros

  • Stable USB Z-Wave radio
  • Cheap dedicated host
  • Easily replaceable

Cons

  • Pi stock can vary
  • USB range depends on placement

Roku Streaming Device

Roku

View Roku

Streaming presence signal that drives living room scenes and lighting.

Why I Use It

Makes TV presence a reliable trigger for lights and notifications.

Pros

  • Cheap presence signal
  • Easy HA integration
  • Low power

Cons

  • Wi-Fi reliant
  • Needs CEC in some setups

Tesla Powerwall 2

Tesla

View Powerwall

Battery backup feeding HA load-shed automations and outage alerts.

Why I Use It

Keeps the house up during outages and lets HA prioritize critical loads.

Pros

  • Seamless backup
  • Granular energy data
  • HA-friendly API

Cons

  • Install lead time
  • Utility approvals vary